Ask Rusty

Dear Rusty: Help!! The Social Security Administration says I didn’t pay enough into my Social Security account, despite being a business owner and paying taxes. What can I do?” Signed: Self-employed American…

Dear Rusty: I am 63 years old, and about to apply for my Social Security benefits. I am self-employed but only working part time. I know about Social Security’s annual earnings…

Dear Rusty: I began collecting benefits at age 72 and am now 78. Since that time, I have continued to work and have contributed over $40,000 to Social Security over the…

Dear Rusty: I will be 62 in two years. I plan on signing up for SS at age 62, but I have heard there are details that are important when signing…

Dear Rusty: I am 67 and 9 months old, collecting a modest SS survivor benefit with plans to collect my own much larger benefit at age 70.  I was confident this plan…

Dear Rusty: I turn 65 this November 2026. Someone told me I need to set up a Social Security account at least 3 months ahead of time before applying for Medicare…

Dear Rusty: I am 79. My husband is also 79 and we both receive Social Security benefits. We were both married before, and we married each other at the age of…

Dear Rusty: I was born on January 1st, 1958, so I believe Social Security considers me to be 70 as of December 2027. I’m planning on filing when I turn 70…

Dear Rusty: My last Social Security payment decreased by about $400, so I went to my online SS account and found a November 2025 letter explaining that my 2024 tax return…

Dear Rusty: I just found out, as someone who was collecting widow’s benefits on my second husband (a very small amount) for some time, that I was, all along, entitled to…